Racist fliers shock students

'White power' message deplored

John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 18, 2007 at midnight

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Monte Vista police are trying to determine who left several racially charged "white power" fliers near the high school and elementary school late last week.

A resident of the southwest Colorado town found a poster on her car windshield and reported it to police, Monte Vista Principal Jim Szoka said Monday. More fliers turned up in the high school parking lot Friday, he said. They also were found near a metal shop, about 100 feet from one of the schools.

The fliers, which included bad grammar and misspellings, appeared to be directed at Michelle Schaefer, the high school's girls volleyball coach.

"The KKK supports you running all the (racial slur) off your team," the flier read. "Keep up the good work we got your back, your not alone, stand tall, stand proud, stand white, because we can't stand (racial slurs)."

Both Szoka and the high school's staff and students have issued statements deploring the fliers.

"We are shocked by the blatant, hurtful statement circulated through the community of Monte Vista," Szoka said. "It's really hard to (determine) who might want to do something like this in our community."

He said that no similar incidents have been reported in the four years he has been principal.

Schaefer could not be reached for comment, but Szoka said that she helped draft his statement.

In a statement released Monday, the students and staff said that they "do not condone, accept, nor will they tolerate any insidious racial epithets or acts that may be intended to divide the student body or community."

They offered an unspecified reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who distributed the fliers.

The fliers appeared about three weeks after cuts were made among the students competing to play on the high school volleyball team.

ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291

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